Word: paroxysmic
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...legitimate uses and the inevitable limitations of power. The answer cannot lie either in mere swagger or in mere compassion. The age-old problem of reconciling love and justice is cogently analyzed by German Catholic Theologian Karl Rahner, who feels that "it is impossible to make our existence a paroxysm of nonviolence." The Christian "should always first opt for the path of love; yet as long as this world exists, a rational, hard, even violent striving for justice may well be the secular personification of love." Love, or even justice, may only be dimly discernible in the brutal landscape...
...statement was not reached without a paroxysm of agonizing and soul-searching. Much as they deplored Pike's flippant way with church teaching, few bishops consider him serious or deep enough a theologian to be considered a heretic. But they also feel strongly, as one leading prelate put it, that "Jim has gone off on his own," without regard to the thoughts and judgments of his peers -and a bishop is above all a symbol of unity within the church. At the same time, the Episcopal hierarchy shuddered at the thought of a heresy trial's impact...
Charles de Gaulle arrived in Cambodia last week, touching off a paroxysm of pageantry and adulation that might have humbled a lesser man. As his plane landed, royal guards in gold-threaded tunics and pantaloons stood at the ready with rolls of ceremonial straw matting, in case the exalted visitor decided to sit down on the tarmac...
...lady is his long-lost sister. Here at last is the romantic disaster for which Carlos has been secretly hoping, the excuse that will justify his failure to stand up and fight like a man for the ideals he passionately professes but does not deeply feel. In a paroxysm of pusillanimity he abandons his career, his country, all hope of a meaningful existence. He runs away to Paris, and there squanders the best year of his life in sophisticated inanition...
...philosophy is to hum it in there, baby, and let's find out who's best - them or me." Other pitchers play around with windups, curves, sliders, screwballs and such. Not Gibson. He uses hardly any windup at all, simply rears back and fires-with a great paroxysm of flailing arms and legs that carries him halfway to the plate. He throws fastballs 90% of the time, and he often has only the foggiest notion of where they are going to go. "Mostly," says Philadelphia's Johnny Callison, "they just go sssssst...